Straight via Australian filling, a US Patent filling for what looks like an iPhone Nano via Apple emerged recently on the USPTO directory.

The patent shows the iPhone Nano as a small device with screens on both sides. One side is shown as just a touch screen display similar to the iPhone today with menus for all the basic features including phone, text messaging, iPod, camera mode, etc etc etc.

The flip side however is where things get different. The patent shows it is a "force-sensitive touch-surface." This surface would control a click wheel like everyone is used to one the iPod of today. Somehow you control the screen side of the iPhone Nano via the controls on the back blind. Maybe the force-sensitive touch-surface has some etchings back there so you can feel your way around -- or something. There are also images of keys and whatnot being on the surface, specifically something that resembles a dialer pad.

The patent isn't exactly clear on how this whole thing will enhance usability, but if Apple can and decides to pull it off it probably won't be anything short of revolutionary. I'm not sure any of this is ever going to make the light of day since it all appears to be more confusing than functional. At least we get to have more iPhone Nano rumors for years to come

I can;t imagine wanting this over an iPhone but I will be honest... when I first learned of the iPhone I thought it was going to be a giant failure too, yet it makes more sense to me than almost any other device out there. I think we will need a little more than some patent images to be able to judge. I know at least I will.

Originally Posted by StealthBravo

This looks like crap

Did you see the iphone patent images or even just the iphone 1st gen prototype? Looked about as good as these do LOL

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I once prayed to God for an iPhone, but quickly found out He didn't work that way...so I stole an iPhone and prayed for His forgiveness.

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself. - Josh Billings